Roman People > Hadrian

Hadrian

Background

– Hadrian and the term Philhellene is used to describe someone who was fascinated by Greek culture and incorporated “Hellenic culture” into their own.– Hadrian was educated in Athens, with respect to this when he was Emperor he built many monuments including a library in the city. Hadrian spent more time in other provinces, often building things which helped proliferate the Hellenistic style throughout the Empire in the 1st century AD.– Hadrian is the first Emperor to wear a full beard, which some archaeologists believe is him trying to harken back to the mythical Greek heroes.– He adopted many styles related to classic Greek such as the Hunt. These were depicted in the eight “Hadrianic Hunting Roundels”. Other elements of Greek style can be seen in the Mosaics from the Baths of Neptune in Ostia.

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